Veronica Fernandez- Our First Presentations

 Our First Presentations- Veronica Fernandez

As a class we were given an assignment to create presentations about Public Speaking. We were split into four groups with around 5-6 people in each one. Each group had certain chapters to work on. The book that we had to go based on was called "Public Speaking; The Evolving Art". I found this book to be very interesting because it discussed everything about public speaking. It covered skills, different types of speeches, ideas, & etc. Group 1 worked on Chapters 1-5, Group 2 worked on Chapters 6-8, Group 3 worked on Chapters 9-12, and Group 4 worked on Chapters 13-17, from the same book. I had the chance to listen to everyone's speech and was able to learn more about public speaking myself through the presentations. It helped me get more insight on those chapters I didn't read and the important skill. Each speaker presented their own type of style, writing, and creativity. Watching my classmate's speech gave me more confidence when it came time to do my own speech.

Group 1's presentation on Chapter 1-5 was very insightful and informative. Each speaker in the group worked very well together in which everything seemed very organized and well-done. Their introduction gave hindsight on what they were to be talking about by giving a summarized version of each chapter. In Chapter 1, they discussed the concepts of life skills, the foundations, and goals. I learned how Public Speaking can be traced back all the way to Aristotle in which he started the most known concept of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. In Chapter 2, they discussed speech anxiety and how to build confidence. I really enjoyed how reassuring that speech anxiety can be and how common it is because I definitely suffer from anxiety anytime I have to speak to an audience. However, I was able to learn how to increase my confidence by practicing your speech before and by practicing relaxation techniques. In Chapter 3, it discussed the listening portion of public speaking. Its very important to keep mindful listening by setting goals, managing anxiety, and being able to position yourself. There was no Chapter 4, so in Chapter 5 it's discussed the importance of an audience. Overall, I really enjoyed hearing everything together.

Group 2's presentation on Chapter 4 & 6-8 had structure and was very detailed. The introduction gave an overview of the content they will be talking about. In Chapter 4, the speaker structured the content very well. It talked about the purpose and topic of public speaking. I found it very valuable that there was an example provided in order to understand it better. It's important when choosing a topic for your speech to evaluate and brainstorm so you can be sure what it is you are presenting. ln Chapter 6, which discussed the method of research and its values. It's important to show relevancy to your topic because that way you can have an accurate description. It's good to cite or paraphrase to avoid any type of plagiarism. ln Chapter 7, it takes into the narrative part in speeches. Giving examples and addressing your audience can help convey to the audience better. Finally, in Chapter 8, discuss how to organize your speech. When writing your speech, it's good to have a format to follow so you don't lose track. Overall, everyone did a really good job in their presentation. It showed everyone really did their research on each of their topics.

Group 3's presentation on Chapter 9-12 was very focused and logical. The introduction left a good impression of the following chapters in a well-organized way. In Chapter 9, it helped to establish the beginning and ending of a speech. Building a strong introduction helps to grab the attention of the audience because it helps to set the stage. The audience usually remembers the first and last thing said in the speech. In Chapter 10, it discusses the topic of using Language in Public Speaking. Language could be used in many various ways to help engage the audience. For example, in different cultural styles and by using personal connections. Chapter 11 talks about the importance of presentation media. When delivering a speech, it's good to keep in mind the appearance of your presentation. Finally, Chapter 12 discussed how to deliver your speech. Body language, voice delivery, and viewership are all key factors when thinking about your speech. Overall, everyone's speech was very clear and had in-depth materials.

Finally, Group 4's presentation on Chapter 13-17 was my own personal group and I believe we did a really good job of keeping it very informative and creative. Chapter 13 included Informative Speeches. The structure and organization were also explained with its different types of formats. In Chapter 14, persuasive speaking was discussed and its important use. In speeches persuasion is important because it helps to teach and influence. In Chapter 15, it discusses the format of arguments. The argumentative part of a speech includes a claim, evidence, and reasoning. Chapter 16 talks about speaking through distance and media. Nowadays there's various ways like through Zoom and podcasts. For my part, I presented Chapter 17 in which I talked about the different types of Special Occasion Speeches. In total there are 9 different types of special occasion speeches. Some examples are Speeches of Introduction, Acceptance Speeches, Roasts, Tributes, Public Testimony, and more. They all vary but are all given in special events to spread light. The following part of Chapter 17 was about Small groups. I can give credit to everyone in my group because we all worked together to form a good presentation. 

Ultimately, I genuinely learned from each group that was presented, Listening to everyone's presentation gave me more information and education about the subject. Each group highlighted their part of the book. In my own experience, this presentation was very fun to make because I was able to create and get more insight about the importance of different types of speeches, and their individual formats.